Attitudes about domestic violence are complex and difficult to assess. The present study attempted to assess societal attitudes by asking participants to read 3 domestic violence case summaries and respond to examine the influence of perpetrator gender, weapon type, and socioeconomic status. Results indicated that participants generally responded to differences between cases rather than to manipulated variables. Therefore, analyses were conducted using case difference as a fixed factor. Implications for domestically violent situations and limitations on external validity also are discussed.



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Faculty supervisor: Matthew T. Huss, Creighton University